OrbView-2 SeaWiFS: Global Photosynthetically Available Radiation (PAR) Data, 1997-2010

SeaWiFS, launched in August 1997, collected global ocean color data for over 13 years until December 2010. The instrument on the OrbView-2 satellite had 8 spectral bands and was optimized for ocean measurements with features like fore-and-aft tilt and low polarization sensitivity. This dataset from NASA provides binned Photosynthetically Available Radiation (PAR) measurements at 4 km resolution.

Use Cases

• Modeling ocean primary productivity based on global Photosynthetically Available Radiation (PAR) measurements.
• Analyzing phytoplankton biomass trends over time based on the 13-year temporal coverage.
• Calibrating and validating ocean color algorithms based on the sensor's 8 spectral bands and optimized design.
• Studying spatial patterns in marine ecosystems based on the 4 km global resolution data.

Strengths

• Data collection spans over 13 years, from September 1997 to December 2010.
• Sensor was specifically optimized for ocean color with features like full dynamic range and low polarization sensitivity.
• Provides global coverage at a 4 km spatial resolution.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data collection ended in 2010; temporal coverage is not recent.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected by the SeaWiFS instrument on the OrbView-2 (SeaStar) satellite.

Time Range

September 1997 to December 2010

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 19:24:42.309126; freshness should be verified

Geography

Global